John 2:14

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, he finds the temple courts full of men selling cattle, sheep, and doves; he even sees men sitting at tables they have set up to do money exchange with people coming to buy the temple wares for the Passover celebration.  John 2:14 EFP

I have to remind myself that this was not Jesus' first visit to Jerusalem or the temple.  It is, however, his first visit as the Messiah-- after his baptism and the official commencement of his ministry.  Does he see things differently through his messianic eyes?  Do the things he sees when he arrives for the first time in this new anointed role affect him differently this particular day?  Does the sad bleating of the lambs register as never before now that he has taken on himself the role of the Lamb of God?  Does the cacophony of silver and gold coinage pounding on old wooden tables grate him as never before now that he enters the courts of the temple as the Son of God?

The text tells us the courts are full.  That would have been good news if they had been full of men and women seeking God is prayer and meditation.  I am certain these people are there--somewhere, lost in the noise and havoc of the religious merchandise.  Even the sound of children giggling and singing silly songs would have been preferable.  But what he hears and sees is a swap meet complete with vendors seeking to make a buck negotiating with buyers trying to bargain for a break from the exorbitant fees charged by the greedy vendors.  It is a traditional and busy marketplace, which is typical of any city or hamlet from Judea to Galilee.  But this is the Jerusalem temple-- the house of God!

I have often wondered over the years when I hear this story, what parallels exist between that scene and those that take place on a weekly basis in churches across the this nation and beyond-- mostly in "developed" nations.  We could argue that today we are simply spreading the Gospel through the materials being sold-- but would not that be the argument given by those who provided a service in the temple in the days of Jesus?  What is their crime?  Is it buying and selling?  Is there no connection between God's house and any buying or selling?  How would the ministries grow and expand without the financial resources provided by these items?  That again could have also been a first century argument by the temple traders.  Was it blind greed winning over the best-intentioned gesture provided by the religious leaders?  The answer may not be one we want to hear, but it's coming.  Stay tuned.